Pious Women

Shaikhul Hadeeth Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhalwi (rahmatullahi alaih) mentioned regarding his daughters that during the month of Ramadaan despite them taking care of their many children and seeing to their household duties, they remained awake for long durations at night, to hear the recitation of the Quraan Majeed from different reciters. Together with this, they compete with each other to recite at least fourteen or fifteen paras (juz) of the Quraan Majeed during the day.

As for Moulana’s grandmother, her daily practice outside the month of Ramadaan was that together with reciting approximately 7 paras (juz) of the Quraan Majeed, she would recite different tasbeehaat about seventeen thousand times. In the month of Ramadaan she used to recite 40 paras (juz) of the Quraan Majeed daily. Moulana’s great grandmother had the opportunity of hearing the entire Quraan being recited by her son in one rakaat. (Akaabir ka Ramadaan, pg. 72-73).

These were pious women of our recent past and it is now up to us to also apply ourselves in the worship of Allah Ta’ala.

Despite being the wife of a tyrant ruler who claimed to be the highest Rabb (Supreme Being), she courageously brought Imaan in Moosa (alaihis salaam). When Firaun heard about this, he became extremely harsh towards her and imposed many punishments on her. Firaun had pegs nailed into her hands and feet. When this was done, the angels shaded her and she made dua, “O my Rabb! Build for me a home by You in Jannah”. Allah then showed her a vision of her home in Jannah. She continued the dua, “and save me from Firaun, from his deeds and from the oppressive nation.”

Subhanallah! How firm Aasiyah was on her Imaan. On the contrary today, over minor difficulties, we begin to utter words of kufr (disbelief). We need to remind ourselves that Imaan is the most valuable gift we have. Irrespective of the nature of the difficulty, we should never do anything contrary to Imaan. Aasiyah’s steadfastness in the face of such severe hardships did not go in vain. In return she will be blessed with the great honour of being the wife of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in Jannah. Patience and steadfastness on deen bring great results.

The exemplary life of Sayyidah `Aaisha (radiyallahu anha) is filled with innumerable lessons. One major lesson that she taught was to always have a clean heart. On one occasion the hypocrites slandered her. It was an extremely trying time. Rasulullah (salallahu alaihi wasallam) as well as `Aaisha’s (radiyallahu anha) parents were very distressed by this terrible accusation. When `Aaisha (radiyallahu anha) came to hear of the false rumours about her doing the rounds, she became very ill. She could not eat a morsel of food nor sleep a wink. She wept almost continuously. Eventually an entire ruku of the Qur’an was revealed which cleared her name and explained how chaste and virtuous she was. While the hypocrites were responsible for this heart-breaking incident, unwittingly, a few sincere Muslims also got caught up in this ugly accusation and defamation. Among them was Hassaan bin Thaabit (radiyallahu anhu).

When Ayyub (alaihis salaam) was tested with an illness, everyone had abandoned him except his wife Rahma. She remained by his side to nurse and take care of him. This is a praiseworthy quality of a loyal wife. Indeed, every husband must have great compassion, love and consideration for his wife. The wife must be totally loyal to her husband in all conditions. It should not be the case of enjoying life with the husband in prosperity and abandoning him when he is ill or in difficulty. There is an expression that says, “When poverty knocks at the door then love flies out through the window.” Nevertheless a Muslim wife should continue to serve and obey her husband solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. We should not be motivated by the temporary material world.